We welcome back @TheSarjeant as he continues on with his excellent Fantasy Football Potential Gems Series. Next up, we look at potential defenders who could shine for you this season.

5 Potential Gem Defenders for the 16/17 Season

Luke Shaw £5.5m — Manchester United

Luke Shaw is a cheap route into the Manchester United backline who are anticipated to keep a lot of clean sheets this season. José Mourinho is the clubs new manager and his Chelsea teams over the years have always been a reliable source of clean sheets. Although Luke Shaw was absent for the majority of last season with a fractured tibia, his club kept a total of 18 clean sheets which was joint best with Arsenal.

George Friend £4.5m — Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough have strengthened their defence this summer – which kept the most clean sheets in the Championship last season – by signing ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés. George Friend is the pick of the Middlesbrough defence in the Fantasy Premier League game, due to his price and potential attacking returns. Whilst every football stats site has credited Friend with a goal and 2 assists in the 15/16 season, Transfermarkt has him down as assisting 6 goals.

Looking into each game that Transfermarkt has him as assisting a goal, it seems they have credited him for winning a penalty and for assisting an own goal – much like the Fantasy Premier League game does. With George Friend’s potential for picking up attacking returns, coupled with Middlesbrough’s good fixtures at the start of the season, the defender may be a good inclusion in your Fantasy squad.

Kurt Zouma £5.5m — Chelsea

Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma is currently sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture, but once he’s fully fit, he’ll be a great option for points. Baba Rahman, another Chelsea defender, has been quoted saying “Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told me that he wants his team to be very defensive…” Antonio Conte is a great tactician and knows how to build a good defensive foundation. At £5.5m, Kurt Zouma could prove to be excellent value when he’s finally fit and ready.

Gabriel Paulista £5.0m — Arsenal

Gabriel Paulista could be set to start the season for the Gunners with Per Mertesacker ruled out for a lengthy time. Mertesacker is expected to be out of action for around five months, which has prompted Wenger to try to recruit an experienced centre-half. If Arsenal fail to sign a replacement, then Gabriel will be a cut priced option into a defence that kept 18 clean sheets last season.

John Stones £5.0m — Everton (Man City)

PAPER BEATS ROCK!!

The Everton defender could be joining Manchester City this summer and he could become another value route into a top Premier League teams defence. Manchester City may be paying up to £50m for the centre-back and a transfer fee that high should see John Stones starting for the club.

ARTICLES IN THE SERIES

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